Nepal Issues Forest Law Ordinance to Address Longstanding Landlessness Challenges

Policies & Agreements

Home
Policies & Agreements
Nepal Issues Forest Law Ordinance to Address Longstanding Landlessness Challenges

Nepal Issues Forest Law Ordinance to Address Longstanding Landlessness Challenges

Ecosphere News Correspondent 2026-10-16 05:52:43

Kathmandu, Nepal - Nepal has opened a new legal pathway to address longstanding land ownership problems affecting landless Dalits, landless squatters and informal settlers following the issuance of the Ordinance to Amend Certain Nepal Acts Relating to Forests, 2083.
President Ram Chandra Paudel issued the ordinance on October 13, 2026, on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers. A separate ordinance amending land-related laws was also issued to facilitate the resolution of landlessness and informal settlement issues. These measures aim to remove legal barriers that have prevented eligible people from obtaining land ownership.
For years, provisions in forest, buffer zone and protected-area laws have complicated efforts to resolve land claims, particularly where land occupied or cultivated by communities has been recorded as forest or public land in official records. The new forest-related ordinance introduces additional legal provisions intended to address such obstacles.
According to statements by Land Management Minister Pratibha Rawal, the new legal framework provides a basis for addressing the problems of landless Dalits, landless squatters and informal settlers. She has called on political and administrative leaders, relevant government officials, local governments and land problem resolution committees to work together to implement the provisions effectively.
The changes are expected to facilitate the verification of eligible land claimants, correction of land records and resolution of cases that have remained unresolved because of legal and administrative complications. However, eligibility will depend on the applicable legal criteria, and the issuance of the ordinances does not mean that all informal settlers will automatically receive land ownership.
Balancing Land Rights and Forest Conservation
The implementation of the new provisions will be important not only for addressing social justice and land tenure concerns but also for ensuring responsible land governance. Authorities will need to distinguish between land that has been incorrectly recorded as forest and areas that genuinely require forest protection and ecological conservation.
Safeguarding forests, biodiversity, protected areas and buffer zones remains essential for Nepal's environmental sustainability, climate resilience and the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities. Effective implementation will therefore require transparent verification, accurate land records, accountability and compliance with applicable conservation safeguards.
The ordinances mark a significant legal step towards addressing Nepal's longstanding landlessness challenges. Their actual impact will depend on fair implementation, clear eligibility procedures and the government's ability to protect both the rights of vulnerable communities and the country's natural resources.
Ecosphere News will continue to follow developments concerning land rights, forest governance, environmental protection and sustainable development in Nepal.
#EcosphereNews #Nepal #LandRights #LandReform #LandlessDalits #LandlessPeople #ForestConservation #ForestGovernance #EnvironmentalJustice #Biodiversity #SustainableDevelopment #ClimateResilience #NepalGovernment #SocialJustice